Golden Valley & West Metro

Good morning, Golden Valley! It’s a relatively quiet day on the hyperlocal front for Golden Valley and our immediate west metro neighbors like Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope, and St. Louis Park, with no major incidents or city council updates making the wire today. We’re always keeping an ear to the ground, so we’ll be sure to keep you posted the moment something breaks in our immediate community.

Minneapolis

• Public Safety: Minneapolis Police are investigating a violent weekend across the city, including a fatal overnight shooting on Lyndale Avenue South near a parking lot that left one man dead and another injured around 1:20 a.m. Authorities also responded to a Saturday night shooting at Bossen Field Park where a woman sustained gunshot wounds to her hand and head, and a chaotic incident outside Cowboy Jacks (126 Fifth Street North) early Sunday where an officer was punched while trying to de-escalate a crowd following a downtown shooting. Additionally, three people were injured in a north Minneapolis shooting Monday night with no arrests currently made.
• City Budget: Mayor Jacob Frey is navigating a looming $30 million budget gap, stating that "everything is on the table" regarding potential cuts to programs, services, and workers in an effort to avoid a sharp property tax spike for residents.
• Community & Development: The Indigenous Land Back movement is gaining momentum from Minneapolis to the State Capitol, with Indigenous Protector Movement CEO Rachel Dionne-Thunder noting that recent land transfers represent a profound shift far beyond a simple change in ownership. Meanwhile, the North Minneapolis riverfront is undergoing an incredible transformation from its industrial past into a vibrant mix of residential and recreational spaces.

St. Paul

• Ramsey County Justice: A Ramsey County judge has sentenced 20-year-old Dylan to nearly 16 years in prison for severe assaults that left his 3-month-old twin sons with a devastating 60 bone fractures.
• Downtown Development: The city of St. Paul is planning to reopen three sections of its downtown skyway system in an effort to bring much-needed foot traffic back to the area's businesses.
• Weekend Events: Get ready for the Hmong International Freedom Festival, returning to St. Paul this weekend on June 27-28. The massive cultural celebration, featuring performances, sports, and more, is expected to draw over 55,000 attendees to the area.

Local Sports

• Minnesota Twins: The Los Angeles Dodgers edged out the Twins 2-1 at Target Field on Monday night, with Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman providing the offense with solo home runs. The game was played as Target Field concession workers went on strike, calling for higher wages, access to health insurance, and stronger job protections. In roster news, pitcher Kendry Rojas is officially back in action with the Twins after recovering from a stint on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow inflammation.
• Minnesota Timberwolves: Ahead of Tuesday's NBA Draft, the Timberwolves made headlines by trading forward Julius Randle in a three-team blockbuster deal. The move leaves the team without a first-round draft pick this year.

Minnesota Statewide

• State Government: A federal judge has officially blocked an effort by the Trump administration to subpoena Gov. Tim Walz and other state and city leaders regarding an immigration enforcement probe. The judge ruled to quash the subpoenas, noting that the connections between the requested information and any potential violations appeared to be "extremely weak to nonexistent."
• Environment & Outdoors: State officials are warning of lingering wildfire concerns across northern Minnesota, marking one year since a devastating derecho flattened millions of trees and left hazardous debris across the region. If you're looking to enjoy the outdoors closer to home, the Minnesota DNR's Sara Berhow is highlighting several "hidden gem" state parks and trails that are perfect for avoiding the heavy summer crowds.
• Special Olympics: Minnesota native Kendra Busch, who previously won a gold medal in basketball at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, is now competing for big honors as the only woman selected for the Team Minnesota soccer roster this year.